CI Chorlton & Whalley Range - January 15 by Community Index

community

January 2015

Chorlton & Whalley Range

View the latest edition at www.communityindex.co.uk Delivered FREE to homes & businesses in Chorlton & Whalley Range

Ministry of Craft

Contents Do the write thing

4 Joe Beech Editor

editor@communityindex.co.uk 07875 895 604

Lesley Swann

10 years of Disco at Home On The Range On the cover Typewriter image - sxc.hu

Deadline for next edition Content 12th January

Director

Advertising 14th January

Linsey Parkinson

Marketing & Development

advertise@communityindex.co.uk 07870 988 601

Sam Paechter Accounts

accounts@communityindex.co.uk 07939 077 036

@communityindex www.communityindex.co.uk

149 Ayres Road, Manchester M16 9WR

Contributors Andrew Simpson

Chorlton Bookshop Katherine Watson Geoff Garnett Joe Beech

A big thanks from Community Index • By Joe Beech, Editor In our first magazine of 2015 and our seventh year as Chorlton, Whalley Range and Didsbury’s dandiest community publication, it’s time for me to give thanks to everyone that makes this possible.

Firstly; the local independent business community. From tirelessly pulling together to help provide for the vulnerable with Mad Dogs Homeless Delivery Service to joining forces through Chorlton Traders to organise the Christmas lights switch-on, we are never at a loss for inspiring stories to fill our pages each month. Next, a big thanks to everyone that helps fill these humble pages. I am lucky enough to have a wealth of talent at my behest, working behind

vC r

For advert bookings or information about distributing leaﬂets with the magazine (prices start from £35 per thousand), email advertise@communityindex.co.uk or call Linsey on 07870 988 601

the scenes to provide me each month with great regular content, who I am eternally grateful for. And finally, who could forget you, the reader. Over the past few years I’ve been fortunate to receive great feedback from all corners of the community as to how to grow and develop this magazine and I always welcome your opinions. To all the advertisers that make this possible, my friends and colleagues that keep me sane and to everyone that supports Chorlton’s vibrant, independent spirit, here’s to a wonderful 2015! I am always keen to meet new writers and creative talent interested in contributing so do get in touch if you’re interested!

Email Joe at editor@communityindex.co.uk

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NEW YEAR M A NCHEST E R AHAM

Chorlton Market Manchester Rd Market Every 3rd Saturday of the month Manchester Rd Chorlton 9am - 4pm Chorlton Green Market At the end of Beech Rd, M21 9HS 11am – 5pm Thursday 11th December

WILBR

LOCATIONS

Chorlton Artists’ Market In Chorlton Precinct at the Chorlton Art Market Hub, 10am – 5pm

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EC HR

OWMOOR RD BARL

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Chorlton Arts Festival Art and Craft Fair At St Clements Church on St Clements Rd 11am - 4.30pm Post Box Cafe Markets Post Box Cafe Wilbraham Rd, M21 9PP 10am - 4pm

DATES Sat 17th Jan Chorlton Market Manchester Rd Sat 31st Jan Chorlton Green Market Sat 21st Feb Chorlton Market Manchester Rd Sat 28th Feb Chorlton Green Market Sat 21st Mar Chorlton Market Manchester Rd Sat 28th Mar Chorlton Green Market Sat 4th April Post Box Cafe Market Sat 18th Apr Chorlton Market Manchester Rd Sat 25th Apr Chorlton Green Market Sat 9th May Post Box Cafe Market Sat 16th May Chorlton Market Manchester Rd Chorlton Arts Festival Art and Craft Fair Sat 30th May Chorlton Green Market Post Box Cafe Market

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New Year, New Hobby, New Friends Make Do and Mending at Ministry of Craft Disposable fashion and mass-produced homewares are so last year! In 2015, have a go at making your own clothes or furnishings: not only will you save money, but you’ll also learn new skills. It’s going to be great!

The trend for ‘make do and mending’ continues to grow and there’s no better way to take your first tentative steps into the craftiverse than with a bit of group crafting. Social crafting and creativity makes you happier! Whether it’s joining a local knit and natter group, or taking part in the virtual shared hug that is #MeMadeMay (a social media celebration of DIY dressmaking), getting together for a spot of making en masse is proven to be relaxing, therapeutic and it’s a whole lot of fun too! There are so many sources of inspiration out there, not to mention an enormous range of materials: from gorgeous fabrics to luxury yarns, fantastic handmade papers and cute craft kits. If there’s something you’ve always fancied trying, or your skills need a general brushup, our friends at the Ministry of Craft have courses for all tastes and ability levels. One of the most popular courses has always been Conquer Your Sewing Machine, the perfect way to get started with sewing or to rekindle a love of stitchery that may have lain dormant since school. More hardcore? Then try a spot of Fair Isle knitting. Courses are based at Fred Aldous, the art and craft supplies shop in the Northern Quarter. There are plenty of art and craft retailers in Chorlton and Didsbury too, so you won’t run short of materials - or ideas. Fancy a go? New courses starting in 2015 include options to make tops or tunic dresses; fabric lampshades, and snuggle quilts. There are also options for making decoupage jewellery, screen printing and that all-important Fair Isle knitting. Places fill up fast though, so you need to er… get weaving.

Visit www.ministryofcraft.co.uk for the full story

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Moving on in 2015?

Get the right people on your side

Mark Heptinstall, Partner and Head of Family Law at Slater Heelis At Christmas, the focus is usually on celebration, but it can also be a fraught time when relationships are put under enormous strain. As the decorations come down and the New Year begins, many people re-evaluate their lives and decide that their relationships just aren’t working. If you feel you can’t face another year with things as they are, you need to take action. Talking to a family solicitor is a vital first step: and it certainly doesn’t mean you’re heading for the divorce courts. There are times when a damaged relationship just needs first aid: a good solicitor can refer you to a number of organisations that can help you talk things through and stay together. If separation is your chosen

option, your solicitor knows and understands what a difficult decision you’ve made. Help settling affairs fairly and amicably can reduce distress for all parties. A meeting with a trained mediator is useful in a number of ways: by keeping lines of communication open, you can make your own decisions about your future, avoid expensive legal battles and reduce tension and hostility. If you’re parents, your children will appreciate the fact that you’re working together to reach a solution. If mediation doesn’t work for you and you need a greater level of legal support, the collaborative approach to separation involves both parties, each with their own independent solicitor, sitting around a table and working

through settlement options. Again, this can reduce costs and ensure that everyone’s interests are protected. This approach can be particularly helpful where custody and visitation rights are involved. You can find advice about relationship counseling, family problems and legal options online: try www.relate.org.uk , www.resolution.org.uk and www. familylives.org.uk

Slater Heelis is a Manchesterbased law ﬁrm with expertise in mediation services, dispute resolution and collaborative law. If you want to address your relationship problems, but you’re not sure where to start, give them a call 0161 969 3131 or visit www.slaterheelis.co.uk

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Book reviews from

Chorlton Bookshop We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves Karen Joy Fowler

This book has already made history. It became one of the first by an American author to be nominated for the Booker prize. Although not winning, it did make it onto the shortlist for 2014. What makes this novel stand out is the plot twist that occurs about a third of the way through. It turns a run of the mill saga about a dysfunctional family

The First Hippo on the Moon David Walliams

I think we can safely say that David Walliams has another hit on his hands. Teaming up, once again, with illustrator Tony Ross, this is a warm and charming picture book to add to his ever growing body of work. Who knew that the man who liked to dress up as a ‘Laaadeeee’

into something quite unusual and deserving of its Booker nomination. Rosemary Cooke is the narrator of the story. She is from a family with two missing siblings, an older brother and a sister called Fern. Despite never being able to keep quiet as a child, Rosemary is now a closed book with no real close friends and a past shrouded in secrecy. Studying at college but perhaps not fulfilling her potential, the story begins when she has a strange encounter in the college cafeteria. Following her first arrest Rosemary’s true story begins to unfold and once the plot twist is revealed her strange behaviour

becomes immediately understandable. A controversial and perhaps selfish decision which her parents took at the time of her birth have affected Rosemary and her siblings in very different ways. We see Rosemary trying to work out a life for herself where she is able to deal with the consequences of that decision. I found this an incredibly emotional read without it becoming overly sentimental. It covers themes as diverse as guilt and our relationship and responsibilities to the animal world. If you want a good read to ease you into 2015 then pick this.

could be such a talented children’s author? The last picture book dealt with a slightly annoying elephant, this time we meet two enormous hippos. Both want to get to the moon in order to be ‘The First Hippo on the Moon’ of course! Who is going to win the race…..3…..2……1….Blast Off! This is aimed very much at the 3-5 age range but older siblings will enjoy it for the silly illustrations and text.

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Biodanza

Dancing to feel alive, Dancing life! We all want to develop the best in ourselves: our ability to trust and bond, our inner harmony, selfesteem, self-acceptance, empathy and affection. Getting these things in balance can combat stress and low mood and mean a more harmonious and integrated self.

Biodanza, the Dance of Life, is a system of personal development created by Rolando Toro Araneda (Chile 1924-2010), now practiced all over the world. Using music, movement and the group dynamic, Biodanza is a joyous burst of freedom of expression and creative energy. Weekly sessions (now in Chorlton) are led by a qualified teacher and last an hour and a half. There are no dance steps to learn and the music and friendly atmosphere are fantastic! Go on - express yourself! To find out more, visit biodanzainmanchester. blogspot.co.uk or contact Maria on mariabiodanza@hotmail.co.uk

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Short, friendly craft courses in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter sewing | knitting | printing | jewellery

Do the write thing

• By Leon Horton Are you a budding author with a tale to tell but no one to tell it to? A poet but only you know it? Writing - be it poetry, prose or plays - be it for personal pleasure or public performance - can be one of the most edifying, terrifying, mollifying, longwinded (and that’s just me) artistic outlets you can tap into. We can’t all be a musical maestro, a comedy genius or paint like Pablo Picasso, but just about anyone with a pen and an open mind can set their creative juices flowing...

It’s that time of year again, when many of us resolve to dust away the cobwebs of Christmas and take up some new endeavour. Personally, I haven’t yet made my New Year’s resolutions (although my habit of closing the curtains so I can’t see how filthy the windows are just has to go) but anyone out there with the urge to take up the mantle of creative writing could do a lot worse than try the Horse Meet Writers Group. It doesn’t take much to get

me into a pub, as my friends will readily attest. In fact, as my friends, former friends and numerous editors agree, it’s pretty hard to get me out of one. So when I heard of a local writing group who meet at the Horse and Jockey in Chorlton, I felt drunk on the prospect that I could go to the pub and legitimately call it work. Award-winning poet Sarah L Dixon has been running the Horse Meet Writing Group for the last seven months. An experienced facilitator, she is keen to encourage newcomers: “People can be nervous about attending a writers’ group for the first time, but this isn’t a course as such – it’s more laid back than that. You can drop in anytime and there’s no pressure to read your work out.” As is often the case with this kind of assignment, I went along with the intention of sitting at the back taking notes, but such was the enthusiasm and engaging manner of Sarah that I found

myself whole-heartedly joining in. She uses visual prompts, such as photographs, to kick start your writing. For example, we were all given a photo of a stone gargoyle and asked to write what the gargoyle was thinking at that moment. Mine, with his hands clamped firmly to his ears, turned out to be suffering from a lifetime of tinnitus caused by passing traffic, and was screaming at the modern world to shut up. Hmm. Maybe I won’t give up the day job just yet.

The Horse Meet Writer’s Group The Horse and Jockey, Chorlton Green Every second Wednesday of the month, 12 – 2pm £5 per session (ﬁrst session £3) Loyalty discount for regulars Contact Sarah 07743685221 thequietcomperemcr@gmail.com or simply go along on the day.

Try it. You just might write it.

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Community Spin Decks Showcasing local musical talent

The Happy Soul Meet Mark Simpson, fronting his latest musical endeavour The Happy Soul. Community Spin Decks has a brew and a chat to discuss his fondness for Chorlton Folk Club and the best acts to catch around Chorlton-Folk-Hardy wwww.thehappysoul.co.uk Who is The Happy Soul?

The Happy Soul is a group I formed with Michael Seal (who sings and plays bass and piano) about two years ago. We wanted to make a pop group with a varied yet recognisable sound. I knew a couple of other people who could help us out, so we got Mick Pauline (who drums for The Yossarians and Cavan Moran) and Sally Mason, who is half of Taylor and the Mason. I had been a solo performer for many years and had struggled to get the right group together, so it’s great to be playing with three people I enjoy making music with.

How would you describe your music in three words? Secular Gospel Pop Facebook “f ” Logo

CMYK / .eps

What are your favourite places to play in Chorlton?

I’ve met a lot of great musicians at Chorlton Folk Club and I learned a lot about live performance there. I’ve been going for about ten years. Its completely removed from a lot of the preening and posing that goes on in a lot of venues and there’s a perfect mix of new performers trying stuff out and experienced musicians who have influenced me greatly. Its on every Thursday at 9.30pm at South West Manchester Cricket Club, on Ellesmere Road.

What other Chorlton Artists would you recommend? I really like Nat who performs as The Bear Around Your Neck, he’s like a cross between Swans and

www.facebook.com/thehappysoul Facebook “f ” Logo

CMYK / .eps

a Tuvan throat singer playing an acoustic guitar with distortion and reverb. Richard Lomax, who featured last month, is close to finishing his 52 project, in which he has written and recorded a new song every week. Mickey Van Gelder, who I met at Chorlton Folk Club, has been my musical mentor for some time. He writes beautiful songs.

Where can we see you next? We’re currently finishing our first album, which will be out around February. As soon as it’s finished we will be playing the album live. In the meantime I’ll be at the folk club stealing ideas. • Interview by Joe Beech

twitter.com/sparkmonism 17

Stay fighting fit this year

Learn new skills at North West Chinese Kickboxing

What do you get if you take the best bits of Kung Fu and combine them with the best bits of Kickboxing? As well as a cracking cardio workout, strength and skill, you also get Chinese Kickboxing. And you can learn it here in Chorlton. It’s Monday evening, inside a unit on the Albany Road Trading Estate, behind Morrisons. A group of 15-20 men and women, of mixed ages, shapes and sizes are training and they’re clearly having a great time. They’re developing co-ordination, concentration, respect and discipline and they’re also getting fit and making friends. There are three high grade Black Belt instructors in the class, so everyone is getting personal help and advice and they’re all improving fast.

Many people enjoy kickboxing as an exciting form of exercise and sessions incorporate aerobic drills, strength, flexibility and conditioning. First you learn basic boxing and kicking; then you get stuck into the focus mitts and kick pads – not your classmates! It’s a fantastic way to vent the

day’s frustrations! The club was founded by Chris Boughey, who also just happens to be the England team coach for the World Kickboxing Council. It’s been in Chorlton for over ten years now and has seen hundreds of people progress to Black Belt and beyond. There’s a range of classes, including adult beginners, women-only and mixed ability. There’s a kids’ class too, where children as young as four can come and learn with Sue Cox. There are even special family rates, because the family that boxes together stays together! There’s no membership to pay, just pay each time you train. It’s simple, but you learn from the best. Feel free to call or drop in to the gym for a chat.

Chorlton Kickboxing

Unit 3 Albany Rd Trading Estate Chorlton M21 1AZ Call 07774 723 839 www.nwckb.co.uk chris.boughey@btinternet.com

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ThePurplePages

sol

Happy New Year!

To all past, present and future clients; we’ll get you on the right foot in 2015 when it comes to selling or renting your property. We’ve had a very successful year in 2014 and now in 2015 I’m pleased to conﬁrm that the big purple estate agent is the number 1 estate agent in Chorlton and Whalley Range. To arrange a free market appraisal please call my team on 0161 882 2233.

sol

JP & Brimelow are proud to support

Kind regards, Edward Ellis, MNAEA Director, JP & Brimelow

Green

Chorlton

sol

CHORLTON CUM HARDY

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Agent 4 9.2%

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Agent 2 16.3%

Others 5.0%

soldsignaudit

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JP & BRIMELOW 34.0%

fors al e SIGN ANALYSIS

SHARE SUPPLIERS OF INDEPENDENT MARKET AND WALES REPORTS THROUGHOUT ENGLAND

AGENT *JP & BRIMELOW WAS THE ESTATE SOLD SIGNS WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF SHOWN. DISPLAYED BETWEEN THE DATES

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Therapy in Manchester is run by Paul Melia, a qualified and experienced psychotherapist and counsellor registered with the BACP (British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists). We work with men and women in a professional, confidential and supportive environment. The first appointment provides an opportunity to discuss what brings you to therapy. By the end of this hour-long meeting you will have an understanding of how psychotherapy and counselling can help you.

arranging therapy is easy... phone Paul Melia on 07592 340 211 or email Paul.Melia@TherapyInManchester.co.uk Therapy in Manchester, 583 Barlow Moor Road Chorlton M21 8AE (by the HSBC Bank)

Seymour Retrofit energy advisor

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Contact me for a free initial discussion of your needs Eric Fewster Tel. 07814 788 846 Email: ericfewster@coldproof.co.uk Web: www.coldproof.co.uk

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January In Your Garden By Katherine Watson

January gardens tend to be a bit boring, unless you have the space for a Hellebore field or a Daphne thicket (I once knew a Daphne Thicket – nice woman, if a little brusque). So it may be worth spending a bit of winter time thinking about the other things that can enhance the main event of plants and design in the garden. For instance, many of us will add pots to our schemes and, for years, I’ve relied on the staple terracotta and glazed purple and blue pots that are widely available and cheapish. Nothing wrong with that at all, but sometimes it’s about having the time to think about what other options might be around and how they might just lift the garden a little in a particular style direction.

Very popular at the moment are the galvanised and zinc planters evoking a bygone era: Cox and Cox have a good variety as do Garden Trading and the Garden Planters Shop online. I’ve got a couple of zinc planters that are quite large – one given over to an Acer and the other to Euphorbia characias wulfenii and Carex everest. Another option is to visit one of the many reclamation and architectural salvage shops in Cheshire: Ashley Reclamation; Reclaimed World and Beeston Reclamation all have a rolling stock of proper old planters and garden objects. For more modern pots and planters, visit iotagarden.com or cadix.co.uk. As well as pots, there are lots of other decorative paraphernalia available for the garden. A ‘friend’ bought me a wolf whistling gnome for my front garden but we won’t talk about that. My dad has passed down to me a love of Green Men plaques for the garden – entirely undesignery but I can’t resist a few tucked around the garden for nephews and nieces to find. Proper garden art is worth investing in, even if you have limited space, and it can make a dramatic impact, particularly to the winter garden. I have a lovely burnt wood sculpture by local artist Audrey Hayes (audreyhayes.co.uk) which adds some drama and contrast to the planting and I’m after some stone wings from Cox and Cox for a boring bit of garage wall - but don’t tell anyone ‘cos they’ll all be after some.

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The Story of Chorlton & Whalley Range The History of Hough End Hall • By Andrew Simpson What should we make of Sir Nicholas Mosley who built Hough End Hall, made a fortune and was judged as ‘covetous and illiberal’? Hough End Hall has one of those long and rich histories which pretty much has all you would want from a building dating back to 1596. It was built by Sir Nicholas Mosley who made his fortune in London, and was gambled away by one of his descendants a century and bit later. Its first owner had been at the heart of national politics during the reign of the first Elizabeth, another of the Mosley’s saw the hall and estates temporally confiscated by Parliament during the Civil War, after which the place settled down and fell out of the great events of State, finally ending up as humble farmhouse for two centuries. Now I have never been over bothered with looking into the story of Sir Nicholas Mosley. Like most people I contented myself with the knowledge that he made that fortune in London. He was rewarded by Elizabeth I for his service to London and his country with a knighthood and ‘a handsomely-carved oak bedstead, together with some other articles of furniture, for the new house which he had recently erected at Hough End, on the site of the old mansion which his ancestors had inhabited.’* And, in the fullness of time, he retired to his magnificent home where he died aged 85 in 1612. His own biographer wrote that his character ‘has been variously represented; his enemies reproaching him as covetous

and illiberal, whilst his friends eulogised his skill, industry and hospitality.’ What is certain is that he left money in his will for a school in Chorlton and may have been involved in other good works. That said, I am intrigued by the view of him as ‘covetous and illiberal’, which may have been more to do with a ruthless determination to do well. After all he was nearly 50 when he left Manchester for London and within twelve years was elected an alderman for one of the City wards, became a sheriff in 1590 and Lord Mayor nine years later. Likewise, his business prospered and, on the back of this growing wealth, he acquired the manors of Manchester, Withington, Cheetham and Cheetwood and went on to maximise the income from these lands, asserting old rights and increasing fines. “In 1602 the burgesses of Manchester claimed that Mosley had worked ‘to alter, overthrowe

and change all the auncient priviledges, usages and customs’ such as common pasturage in 100 acres of Collyhurst, which had hitertoo benefited the

burgesses and the town as a place of recreation, shooting, mustering troops and the placing of cabins for plague victims.”** Of course he was not alone in maximising his income. Plenty of Elizabethan landlords were doing the same and the practice of enclosures and taking away the rights to common land stretched back into the early 16th century. Sir Thomas More, in his book on Utopia, published in 1516, had commented that because sheep farming was far more profitable than arable farming ‘the nobility and gentry, and even those holy men, the abbots not contented with the old rents which their farms yielded, nor thinking it enough that they, living at their ease, do no good to the public, resolve to do it hurt instead of good. They stop the course of agriculture, destroying houses and towns, reserving only the

N A Evans

churches, and enclose grounds that they may lodge their sheep in them.’*** All of which is a fine new slant on that magnificent hall at Hough End, which just leaves me with the charitable and optimistic words of his descendant Sir Oliver Mosley who in 1849 concluded that determining Sir Nicholas’s character ‘at this distant period very difficult to decide...... His abilities and success as a merchant have been universally admitted, and perhaps the great gains which accompanied his worldly pursuits might too much engross his attention; but we will charitably hope that many opportunities afforded him, during a long life, for repentance, were not neglected.’**** I hope so, but as yet I fear the jury is still out.

Pictures; Hough End Hall, 1849, and Sir Nicholas Mosley’s mural monument, 1612 in Didsbury parish church from Family Memoirs, Mosley, Sir Oswald * Mosley, Sir Oswald, Family Memoirs, 1849, Printed for Private Circulation, page 6 ** Bowd, Stephen, John Dee and Christopher Saxton’s Survey of Manchester,(1596), Northern History, XLII:2, September 2005 ***More, Sir Thomas, Utopia, 1516 ****ibid Mosley, Sir Oswald Buy Andrew Simpson’s book The Story of Chorlton-Cum-Hardy or visit him online at chorltonhistory. blogspot.com

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Community Index

Local groups and useful numbers Clubs, Societies & Groups Barlow International Folk Dance Group Tuesday evenings at St.Ninians, Wilbraham Road Mary O’Mahony 881 0955 Chorlton Afternoon Townswomen’s Guild 2nd & 3rd Tuesday of the month, 2pm, Chorlton Library. 881 2544 Chorlton Aikido Club Wednesdays 7.30-9.30pm St Ninians, Wilbraham Rd www.lancashireaikikai.org 861 8456 Community Allotment & Apiary Scott Avenue Allotment 07973 139068 or 07521 500223 uk.groups.yahoo.com/ group/grow_for_it/ Chorlton and Friends Gardening Group 3rd Monday monthly, in Chorlton Library, 7.30-9pm. Admission £3 candfgg@yahoo.co.uk Chorlton Bookshop Book Group 3rd Tuesday of the month at The Horse and Jockey Pub 7.45pm Details from Chorlton Bookshop or call 881 6374 Chorlton Bridge Club Christine Blackburn 225 8854 www.bridgewebs.com/chorlton Chorlton Bujitsu Wednesday 8pm at St Werburgh’s Church Hall 07866312616 facebook. com/Iki.Yoyo.Dojo Chorlton Circle Dance Group Tuesdays, 7.30-9pm Upper Hall, St. Werburgh’s Parish Hall, £5-7, 1st session free chorltoncircledancegroup.co.uk

Chorlton Civic Society Chorlton Library meeting room. Check website for date of next meeting Chair - Mary Crumpton 07751 696 055 chorltoncivicsociety. org.uk Chorlton Evening Townswomens Guild Meet every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month at 7.30pm Chorlton Library. 881 6354 Chorlton Fundraising Group Marie Curie Cancer Care. Meets monthly at the Irish Centre Julie. peters@mariecurie.org.uk

Chorlton History Group Meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, 1.30-3pm at Chorlton Good Neighbours St Nininians Church, Egerton Rd South Chorlton Kung Fu Wednesdays 8pm, Albany Estate, behind Morrisons 07774 723839 Chorlton Philosophy Group Tuesdays 7.30pm, upstairs at the Lloyds pub chorltonphilosophygroup. wordpress.com Chorlton Reading Group Once a month in the meeting room behind Chorlton library 7.30pm All welcome 881 1813 chorltonreadersgroup@gmail.com Circolo Italiano Every Monday, 7-9pm at Union Chapel, Fallowﬁeld. Intermediates and native speakers 881 8314 or guglielmifranco@clara.co.uk Coffee and Craft Mornings at Chorlton Good Neighbours. Meet friends and have a coffee, with arts and crafts group. Thursdays 10-11.30am Wilbraham St Ninian’s Church 881 2925 cgncg. org.uk

Co-op members’ group Every 2nd Wed of the month at 7.30pm, room above the Hardy Lane Co-op.Talks, trips, events. Brenda 0752 507 1672 brenda.copnall@gmail.com French Circle Learn French with friendly native speaker. Tuesday afternoon at St Werberghs Church Hall 881 8314 Friends of Alexandra Park 226 7525 friendsofalexandrapark. org.uk Friends of Chorlton Meadows 881 6276 friendsofchorltonmeadows. blogspot.com Friends of Longford Park info@ folp.co.uk friendsoﬂongfordpark. org.uk Grand Day Out Free computer taster sessions and a cup of tea, for the over 50s in Chorlton Library, Fridays 2-4pm 227 3700 d.gilligan@manchester.gov.uk Greater Manchester Humanist Choir Sundays 2.30-4.30pm, Chorlton Unitarian Church gmhumanistchoir@gmail.com @GMHumanistChoir Intergen Volunteer opportunities for Chorlton residents 55+ to work with local primary school children. Estelle Longmore 264 0089 or 07946761785 intergen. org.uk Lipreading and Communication Skills classes Free to deaf people and their families and friends. Wednesdays 1-3 pm at Mauldeth House 0161 832 0444 enquiries@ manchesterdeafstudies.org Manchester Flower Lovers’ Guild St Werburghs Church Hall, Chorlton. Anne 881 6591 ﬂowersnorthwest.net

Old Mancunians AFC Training twice a week at Manchester Academy 07855-947411 oldmancs@hotmail. co.uk Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Tuesday 7.30pm, Classes at Manley Park Primary School, College Road, Whalley Range rscds-manchester.org.uk Shakespeare House Community Centre Whalley Range M16 8NR, 823205 admin@r-squared.org.uk Simply Cycling Longford Park, Athletics Stadium Mon & Fri 9.30 Noon, Sun 1-3pm. All abilties and ages welcome Sue 0775 342 8937 Helen 0787 162 1778 www.simply-cycling.org South Manchester Camera Club Mondays 8-10pm, Didsbury Methodist Church www.smcc.org.uk St. Clements Fellowship Barbara 881 5912 or Ida 0161 861 7158 Trafford Athletic Club, Longford Park. Mon & Thu 6-9pm. Min age 9. Tonya 881 4488 www.traffordac.co.uk Whalley Range Cricket & Lawn Tennis Club Indoor cricket nets : Years 5 & 6: Fridays 6.30-7.30; Years 7-10: Friday 7-8.30: Seniors (16+): Tuesday and Thursday 6-9. £4 Kingsbrook Road, whalleyrange.play-cricket.com Whalley Range Forum JN8 Youth & Community Centre, 82 Cromwell Ave, M16 0BG 881 3744 communityforumwhalleyrange@ gmail.com Whalley Range 4 Wildlife wr4wildlife@yahoo.co.uk wr4wildlife.wordpress.com

Arts & Crafts Adventures in Painting & Drawing Tutor led art group.T New term starts 16th Sept. Tuesdays 1-3.30. Chorlton Park Adult Learning Centre rowojo@hotmail.com Penny 0161 256 3528

Art Fusion Amateur artists meet each Tuesday at 7-9pm at St Clements church hall. Fiirst session free then £5 ahomersham@ntlworld.com www. artfusion.org.uk Crafty Sew ’n’ Sews Friendly sewing group with a professional tutor. Mondays, 6.308.30pm (except second Monday of each month) Co-operative Hall, Hardy Lane. Angela 225 6931 Chorlton Alternative Art Class Life drawing, all levels of ability welcome. £6 entry. Weds 7.30-9.30pm The Edge Theatre ww.chorltonalternativearts.com Chorlton Art Group Tuesdays, 10am to 12 noon at St. Werbergh’s church hall. Brenda at brensidebeck@aol.com Chorlton Knits 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at Lloyds Chorlton Sewing Club 1st Thursday of the month 7.30-9.30pm Chorlton Library chorltonsewing.wordpress.com Co-operative Sewing Group Fridays, 10am-12pm Co-operative Hall, Hardy Lane Pam 07906 311455 Dolls House and Miniatures Group 2nd Monday of each month, 8-10pm, Whalley Range Venue. Ann 07814 861285 Manchester Sing Out Choir (Gospel Choir) Tuesdays 7-9pm St Johns Centre, Old Trafford. manchestersingoutchoir.org msochoir@live.co.uk Stitched Up Textile workshops 0161 881 7141 www.stitchedup.coop

Entertainment Chorlton Film Institute Northern Soul - 15th January. Doors open 8.10 pm, ﬁlm starts 8.30 pm Entrance £5 St Clements Church Chorlton Folk Club Thursdays 9pm Ellesmere Rd Cricket Club Edge Theatre The Edge M21 9JG edgetheatre.co.uk Folk Songs and Tunes at The Beech 1st & 3rd Wednesdays for Songs, 2nd & 4th for Tunes. Beech Road, Chorlton, M21 9EG

Therapy & Support Groups Breast Cancer Care Walking Group Every other Friday at Chorlton Water Park bestfootforward@ breastcancercare.org.uk Chorlton Anxiety Group 226 3871 Chorlton Good Neighbours Support for older people 881 2925 helen@chorltongoodneighbours. org Manchester Diabetes Support Network: Details/ venues/ monthly dates etc Register interest with Mike 860 5688 diabetesinmanchester@gmail.com New Family Social UK charity for LGBT adopters, foster carers and their children. Meets every month in south Manchester. newfamilysocial.org.uk Rainbow Families 07903 397 108 rainbowfamilies@ hotmail.com

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John Leech - MP 8 Gawsworth Avenue M20 5NF Tel: 434 3334 johnleechmp@parliament.uk

Are you part of a voluntary or community group? Drop Joe an email on editor@communityindex.co.uk

Sport in Chorlton By Geoff Garnett

Golf: Chorlton stars get their reward

Judo: Local stars support Ghana National Team

Local players are pictured with Steve (standing with red belt) and the Ghana stars

Chorlton Golf Club’s great charity effort for Help for Heroes saw them rewarded with a dream trip to Turnberry when the team of five, led by chief organiser Jeff Wealands, played in the Help for Heroes National Golf Club Challenge final over two days. Jeff said: “We qualified as one of the top two fundraisers of all of the clubs who entered the Challenge. On Day One we played a practice round in a stiff breeze and we acquitted ourselves well with the best aggregate score on the day, as undulating large greens and cavernous bunkers made scoring difficult. Playing any links course ‘blind’ is a challenge, but even more difficult on one of the toughest courses on the Open Circuit.

Left to right: Eddie Fyans, Peter Parmeshwar, James Doodson, Jeff Wealands, Paul Gill “On Day Two we suffered from the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo and saw the flags bending at 45 degrees. I have played golf in many weather conditions but nothing comes close to what we encountered. Survival was the order of the day. A putt on one green stopped briefly just 18 inches from the hole before getting blown off and ending up 60 yards away. “We stuck to our task and finished second in the team event, just three behind the winners. Despite the weather, we all had an experience we will never forget on one of the world’s finest links courses.”

With the Olympic Games at Rio getting ever nearer, our local judo stars have been giving a helping hand to members of the Ghanaian national team.

Chorlton star, Steve Pullen MBE, has been at the forefront of training and organising judo at all levels and he was delighted to be given the opportunity to help the Ghanaians with their pre-Olympic preparations. Steve said, “We have plenty of top judo players in Greater Manchester who’ve come along to training sessions. The Ghana players are Razuk Mummi Abugiri, who won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Alex Amoako, Alhassan Abubakar and Raymond Normeshie. We hope they’ve gained valuable experience from training with our local players; hopefully it will give them a boost for the Olympic Games in 2016. “Some of our players also have Olympic, National and European ambitions, so this is good for them, too”

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10 years of disco at Home On The Range The 28th of November was a very special date for many in Whalley Range, Hulme, Moss Side, Chorlton and Didsbury as it was the 10th birthday celebration of the inimitable Home on the Range night at the wonky jewel in Manchester’s nightlife crown; the Carlton Club. If you haven’t checked either the night or the venue, you’ve missed out on two of life’s great treats. In fact, good for you, as you can have the unparalleled joy of a double whammy thwack in the senses. For the past ten years, yes ten years, Matt, Neil and Tom have been playing vinyl to selected visitors on the last Friday of the month. Four mates who had spent a lifetime going to club nights like Headfunk, CounterCulture, Electric Chair, Homoelectric and Friends & Family thought, why not do something? They had good records, rubbish decks and enthusiasm in spades, mixed with no experience of putting nights on. What could go wrong? So in November 2004 they pitched up and had fun. A few people came, then more came. Bottles of vodka were sold over the bar and people had fun in the best atmosphere ever. As Matt says “We were doing something right. It shouldn’t work, but it does! I know of people who have found love and lost love at Home on the Range. I have met some truly lovely people; never do you get so many hugs going into a disco.”

Home on the Range

Last Friday of the month at The Carlton Club, Whalley Range

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